, ;6 <e~pettcncel). 6;;p6~se&.3: --~----------------~-------------------~ 3. To call: thefc things thus marked and laid in under fcveral Spiritu~lh~ads, of Pi·omifcs, Threats, Deceits of the hear!, _Subtzlr~-e_s of Satan, Alfuremems of rhewor/d3 &c. I might enlarge the Heads into any thmg that IS good or evil : I. Into any thing that is uood, whether it be God, or the thwgs gwen Jts by God; his Spirit, his Counfels his O~dinances, his Vvork ofSonctification, and all t~e fruits of the Spirit.. 2. Into'any thmg that 1 s cvtl, whether 1t be Sm or the frmts of ~m, as Corruptton,lnabthty to good:, Vanity of all the Creatures, the J udgemcnts of God. Some have given us a Catalogue of the feveral forts of E.,·pcriences, thus ; They are D•ut 13 11.17 13,19) 20, lf• >·I 1, 1 f<t.2-3• •l'[al 14)-10. Pj:ol. 7>- 28. PJai.119·So. Ltt.m3 z6. l'[al 9>·'· G.tl. 4.18. iltb. • ,.6. J\o~-7-•3· P[aL ~I.$. 2 Cor. 3' s. ll,m, 'i. 18. either,-- • I. Experiences of Gods anger and jull:ice, and thefe are of notable ufe for iuflruc1ion and caution ; it was Gods command oft-times renewed in the Law, that when his wrath was executed upon finners, all Ifrael jlwuldfe, and fear , and do no more fo wick_tdly. • 2. Experiences of Gods goodnelfe, and love, and they are either,- I. Experiences, of God in a way of common providence, evidencing what God is to hispeoplein a way ofbodilymercy, when they areinfrraits, todeliver them in afflictions, to help and fuccour them, &c. ' 2 . Expcrimccs of Gods fpecial mercy in a way of faving grace, or firft g10ace evidencing how true God is in his promifes to poor, loll:, perifhing creatures; ho~ ready he IS to pardon fcarletfins, &c. 3. Experienw of Gods fpecial mercies in a way of flrengthning grace ; ewidencing what God is to poor creatures labouring under, 1. Strong corruptions, helping them to overcome them. 2. Strong temptations, helping them to refifl them. 3. Hard and difficult duties, helping them to go through with them . c,.. Experiences of Gods fpecial mercy in a way of quickning grace: I. Shining upon the foul in dark and low conditions, and chearing it with the light of his counte– nance. 2. Enlivening the foul to ferve him with alacrity and cheerfulne!Te, &c. Thus we mu!t fort our Experiences, as the Apothecary forteth his drugs. S E C T. 3· Of the improving of Experiences. 2. F Or the improving of Experiem·es,-_,..- 1 . We mull: confider what Scripture-truth is verified thereby. . ) Others. m l Our felves. I. In others, as, if we confider how God bleffeth and cheareth the religious, wherein that Text is verified, Biej[ed arc the righteous, for it jiJa!l be well with them, fonhq flwll eatthe fruit of their doings: Or, if we obferve how God puni01eth the carnal and hypocritical, wherein that text is verified, Wo unto the wick!d, it jlsa/1 be ill tvith thcm,for the reward of their handsJha/1begi•·en them. 2. In our[elves, as, if by a fpiritual Experience We tajle God to begood ; wherein that text is verified, Iffo be ye hav'e taflcd that the Lord is gracious : If we finde the things given m ofGod to be good ; as that his Spirit is good, according to that Text, Thy Sptrit is good: That his Ordinances aregood, according to that Text, It isgoodfor me to draw near to God; - and, This is my comfort in ajfiiClion, for thy word hath quick_tned me : That San::lification, and the fruit of the Spirit, aregood; according to that Text, It is good that a man jho~tld borh hope, and quietly wait for rhefalvation of the Lord: -- It is agood thing to give thank.! unto the Lord, artd to.fing praifes unto thJ Name,O mojl High: -It i good to be ualoufly ajfeiled allvays m agoad thmg :.---– ,It is agood thing that the'heart be tHablijiJed with grace ; or if by Experience we difc<l)l the evd offinne itfclf outof meafurefinful, according to that Text, Sinnebytilc commandment is become exceeding ftnful: If we finde out the corruption of our own Nature, accordino to that Text, Behold, I was jl.>apen in iniquity, and in fin didmy mothn· conceive me: 1f w~ difcover the abomination of our own righteoufneffe,according to that Text, We are all a1 an u~dean thing, and all our righteou[ncf[e are as filthy raggs: If we feel our own inabilities to do any good, according to that Text, To will is prcfnt w11h me ; but how to performe that which is good, I finde not : --Not that we arefujfimnt of our[elves, to thin/z.any thing as of our[elves, but our fujficiency is of God: If we have tryal of the vanity of all creatures, as of Riches, Honour, Wifdome, according to that Text, Ya»JI]
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